Ellon man’s bid to help military heroes

Ellon man Kris Jackson is to take part in a charity cycle in aid of injured servicemen and women.

Published:09:00Saturday 25 July 2015

Share this article

An Ellon man is preparing to take part in a charity cycle in aid of injured service personnel.

Kris Jackson is training for Prudential RideLondon-Surrey - a 100-mile route through the closed roads of London and Surrey.

I am aiming to raise a £1000 for such a worthy cause and would appreciate any help to get me there

Kris Jackson
Charity fundraiser

The event is the world’s largest festival of cycling and will be held on the weekend of August 1 and 2.

Kris, 34, who is a member of Ythan Cycle Club, aims to raise money for Wings for Warriors, a locally-based charity helping wounded veterans get back into work after rehabilitation by training them to fly helicopters for eventual work offshore.

The organisation aims to re-train injured service personnel as commercial pilots.

Training allows graduates the potential for an exciting and challenging future, which will draw upon the personal characteristics developed in their military careers.

He explained: “I am an air traffic controller at Aberdeen tower so was introduced to Wings for Warriors when they popped over to introduce themselves when they were starting up.

“I was interested at the time because of how brave these guys were that had suffered horrific injuries, and the fact that they have picked themselves up and are overcoming huge odds to not only walk again but to get into a demanding sector in a harsh environment.”

Kris, who took part in the London event last year, added : “It is now the third Prudential RideLondon but it is garnering a lot of support and coverage.

“I am aiming to raise a £1000 for such a worthy cause and would appreciate any help to get me there.

“There are around 20,000 cyclists from all over the globe taking part in the 100-mile ride.”

Over the two days around 95,000 participants are expected to take part in five different events.

The festival combines the fun of a free family ride in central London with the excitement of watching the world’s best professional cyclists, including Sir Bradley Wiggins, and raises millions of pounds for good causes.

If you want to support Kris, then visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/KrisJackson